Right on target

On the referee's command, one person from each of the two six-player teams dashes forward to gather the dodgeballs for his team, often being the first one hit.

Shortly after, the pounding sound of those dodgeballs hitting the walls can be heard, even from outside Wixon Middle School, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday nights.

Downstairs it looks like physical education class in the matchbox-shaped basement gymnasium. A set of benches splits the floor in half, while a yellow string stretches the length of the floor, acting as a midline for the two rapid-fire games happening simultaneously.

Men and women ranging from their early 20s to middle age are gathered, throwing soft foam dodgeballs in a variety of colors as part of the Cape Adult Sports League's nine-week dodgeball league.

But this league is more important than just a series of games.

"People are leaving the Cape because they don't have connections with anybody here," said Shaun Conway, who founded CASL in 2014.

"I wouldn't have been here if this didn't take off," he said. "I would have left for sure."

Conway grew up in Burlington. After living briefly in Denver, he came back to Massachusetts and moved to the Cape. In other cities, there are plenty of leagues and social events for younger adults, he said, but on the Cape, there was a void.

He initially tried volleyball and dodgeball, but said the organization really started growing when summer kickball was introduced. Several playing dodgeball on Wednesdays have said kickball is how they initially got involved with the group.

"We just kept growing from there," Conway said. "There's a competitive aspect to it, but the social aspect comes first. It's about getting out, having fun and taking life a lot less seriously."

To emphasize the enjoyment of the sport, there are several games within the 20-minute series, some taking less than a minute. The team with the most wins in the series earns the victory. And after a short break, one team from each side switches and another 20-minute period of dodgeball continues before four new teams come in to play.

"I need that excuse to be active, and this does it," said Falmouth's Dan Abrams, who is in his second year with the league. "I enjoy it for what it is. If you get too hung up in it, you won't have a good time."

Some teams are more competitive, such as Steven Miceli's, which is eyeing first place. But Miceli, of Falmouth, says he understands the enjoyment comes first, even if some teams get into it more than others.

"We're here mainly to laugh at each other as a team," he said.

During one game, a young woman took a shot off the chin from a man on the opposing team. After he apologized on the sidelines, the woman shrugged it off and said, "No problem, just buy me a beer."

And that's where this group branches out beyond sports.

Conway has formed a sponsorship with several local bars and restaurants, and he guarantees two social events at their venue. After the two-plus hours of playtime, the players reconvene at these establishments for food and drinks, socializing with the people they were just targeting with dodgeballs.

"What you make here is real true connection," Conway said.

Those connections, according to Conway, have led to mechanics finding customers or real estate agents finding clients, while some simply find new friends.

The league isn't specifically geared toward younger, single people. Some players bring their kids to watch, while Sandwich residents Olesia Sayer and her husband, James, were there playing together.

"It's a good excuse to get out of the house," Olesia said.

In the future, Conway said he'd like to expand the group and host events on the Upper Cape. The way he sees it, the more the better.

"I think out of all the places I could do it, I think it's most needed here," Conway said.

— Follow Steve Derderian on Twitter: @Steve_Derderian.

Editor's note: The original version of this story contained the incorrect spelling of Shaun Conway's last name. The story has been corrected.

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